I don't think it's really going out on a limb to predict that NBC is going to find itself back in that familiar fourth place spot once this new season gets underway. It's become almost comical to look at what has happened to the network since the days of the unstoppable Must See Thursdays. Now though, as we head into the new season, I find that I only have interest in two of their new shows.
With one of them, My Own Worst Enemy, I seem to be in the minority. I'm having trouble finding anyone else that doesn't want to dismiss it out of hand as an inferior Jekyll. And the other, Kings, won't be premiering any time soon. The network isn't without its prizes. Chuck, Heroes, and The Office are all very good, but I don't expect any giant gains in ratings for any of them. Those would have to come from the new shows, and I'm just not seeing that happening. It's not a good way to kick off a new season, and that's just the start of the troubles. Nikki Finke is now reporting that the impending doom of the new schedule, combined with a host of other troubles, will bring about a shakeup at the top of the network.
If you have any interest in the behind-the-scenes goings-on of television, it's worth a read. The story actually sounds like it has the makings of a much better drama than anything else NBC has developed for this season. For me, it actually called to mind the Showtime series, Beggars and Choosers. This story doesn't quite reach the level of a transsexual prostitute putting the owner of the network in a coma, but it makes a run at it.
According to Finke, the perfect storm of a bad schedule, questionable decisions, poor ethics, and substance problems have both Ben Silverman and Teri Weinberg on the hot seat even before the season has really started. The nutshell version says that Silverman can't be bothered to come to work, and Weinberg, his handpicked EVP of NBC Entertainment, is in over her head and floundering. On top of that, she made some questionable moves regarding her boyfriend's pilot at the network. And the rumors of Silverman's drinking and drug use have resurfaced.
Of course, this is all just rumors and speculation at this point. With that in mind, it's still an interesting story because of what it says about the state of the network. While we will have to wait and see just how close Finke is to the mark, clearly things are not going well. Not addressed in the article is whether all of this is somehow going to add up to another bizarro-world promotion for Jeff Zucker. Because, hey, taking the network from first to fourth landed him the CEO gig. That's a story that I'll never understand. At any rate, if you can't find anything intriguing in any of the new NBC shows this fall, the network might still provide some entertainment for you with this story.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-01-2008 @ 9:58AM
Usama said...
Wow. Hey now SNL has some new material to work with?
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9-01-2008 @ 10:48AM
Ryan said...
Sounds like a lot of drama. For me I've been hardened from years of my shows not getting good enough ratings and getting canceled so I'm so over that whole thing.
And I also watch Heroes (which despite lower ratings is still their demo jewel) and Chuck (which they gave a full season order). So me? I'm good.
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9-01-2008 @ 10:58AM
0megapart!cle said...
right, and all the other networks are just filled with gems of quality programming. NOT!!! We need to remember when we talk about NBC's problems, that it isn't due, for the most part, to crappier programs than their competitors, at all! NBC has most of the best programs on broadcast TV, period.
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9-01-2008 @ 11:21AM
willy the impeached said...
Buh Bye silverman, you were much too stupid for this job. And the job doesn't require all that much to begin with.
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9-01-2008 @ 12:14PM
VP said...
These are the same idiots that put one of their best new shows Life on Friday nights now. That's another show they set up to fail. The people who run the network are useless.
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9-01-2008 @ 12:30PM
Darlene Kushner said...
Maybe NBC can pick up Jericho, Moonlight, Blood Ties, and all the other shows that millions have complained about because they were cancelled. Then watch their ratings skyrocket!
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9-01-2008 @ 1:00PM
Liz said...
Oddly, NBC is still the channel I watch the most. I love the Monday and Thursday lineups.
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9-01-2008 @ 1:59PM
Argus said...
Based on NBC having a good run of taking shows with awful ratings and making them work, it should keep doing that. But it won't, because it has awful management.
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9-01-2008 @ 2:03PM
David said...
Serves them right for canceling Journeyman before it had a chance to build an audience, and bringing back a crappy Knight Rider remake. Just sayin'...
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9-01-2008 @ 2:25PM
segsig said...
I still don't get how this screwed up network sold the most advertising for the upcoming season. I'm assuming they'll have to give the money back again!
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9-01-2008 @ 3:22PM
Mel said...
NBC used to be one of my favorite networks (back in the 80's when they used to air actual comedies). Now it is the worst network (second to the CW). I can't even remember what the last show I watched on that network was (aside from Dateline). Very very sad.
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9-01-2008 @ 3:29PM
jproductions17 said...
NBC is my favorite network, but they really don't have any new shows that interest me. Come to think of it there really aren't any new shows I'm interested. Fringe and Dollhouse (both FOX) are really the only two I look forward to and the last one isn't until mid-season. NBC as a network has been spiraling downwards. Screwing over Scrubs being a fine example. They should have made a deal to finish the season or renew for one last season so it could have ended properly. Now its gonna be on ABC and possibly never end right by becoming like ER. Terrible terrible idea.
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9-01-2008 @ 5:19PM
Oreo said...
What's really sad is I don't watch NBC at all unless a Law and Order is on.
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9-01-2008 @ 5:55PM
Trey said...
There are no new shows I'm looking forward to this year, and all my favourites from the last few years were cancelled (Journeyman, Arrested Development).
This year I'll only be tuning into House (Fox), the Sarah Connor Chronicles (out of desperation for anything else to watch, Fox), and Heroes (which I didn't like so much last year, NBC). Oh and South Park.
Such a shame that no network nurtures good shows anymore. They cannot expect shows to be instant successes from episode 1.
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9-02-2008 @ 12:03AM
Karen Hennis said...
No wonder Las Vegas was cancelled... the decision must have been while sitting around the bong!!! When your buzz wears off why don't you let another network pick up the show? I miss Jay Leno, but I won't watch NBC at all after that bonehead decision.
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9-02-2008 @ 2:29AM
Will said...
I think I only watch 2 shows on NBC, Chuck & Life. I watched Journeyman faithfully til they cancelled it. I agree with the others that this season looks like the weakest lineup on new shows I can remember for a long time. Only a couple even sound interesting to me, and usually I have at least half a dozen I'm looking forward to. I think there were at least 6 shows from last season that got cancelled on me, maybe I just won't watch as much tv this season.
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9-02-2008 @ 10:03AM
quixotica said...
I concur w/some of the other readers. I watch NBC more than any other network, from their morning news programming to the afternoon soap to some of their eveining entertainment shows.
It's a shame that in a previous writing that NBC was ranked #1 over the summer (prior to the Olympics) & if it's true about Ben, that his "winning streak" is really over.
Ben, what's up w/that! Is it true you care to party more than work?? Can't handle the pressure of the bullshitters & Naysayers?? Come on! You're not a sappy teenie bopper that can't handle it....I think you need a "good woman." (rotfl) serious!
Or is there more to the story than what we're being told?
Reply
9-02-2008 @ 10:04AM
Quixotica said...
I concur w/some of the other readers. I watch NBC more than any other
network, from their morning news programming to the afternoon soap to
some of their eveining entertainment shows.
It's a shame that in a previous writing that NBC was ranked #1 over
the summer (prior to the Olympics) & if it's true about Ben, that his
"winning streak" is really over.
Ben, what's up w/that! Is it true you care to party more than work??
Can't handle the pressure of the bullshitters & Naysayers?? Come on!
You're not a sappy teenie bopper that can't handle it....I think you
need a "good woman." (rotfl) serious!
Or is there more to the story than what we're being told?
Reply